In a horrible case of animal abuse in Texas, nbcdfw.com reports that a cage containing a dog and her 10 puppies was found early morning on Thursday, May 29 by a school bus driver in Parker County. The mother dog had been shot in the head and her puppies were still nursing, covered in their deceased mother’s blood.

The bus driver reported seeing the cage partially in the road in Springtown and alerted authorities, who responded to the scene and rescued the puppies from certain death. After having been checked by a local veterinarian, the three male and seven female puppies are now in the care of Angels & Outlaws Second Chance Bully Ranch. Volunteers are bottle feeding them while also introducing them to surrogate nursing dogs in hopes of one accepting the puppies and allowing them to nurse.

The mother is thought to have been a German Shepherd/heeler mix and the puppies are a mixture of brown and white, brown, and brindle coat patterns. They will be available for adoption once weaned.

Parker County Sheriff’s office report says that the mother dog was underweight and the puppies’ eyes were just opening. That the mother dog was shot and killed is horrifying enough, but to leave her puppies to fend for themselves and possibly die a slow and horrible death alongside their dead mother is unconscionable. Comments on the Angels & Outlaws Second Chance Bully Ranch Facebook page is indicative of outrage in not just the local community, but nationwide over the incident.

A $1,000 reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in shooting the dog and abandoning her puppies. Parker County Sheriff’s Animal Control Division and Criminal Investigation Division are investigating and anyone with information is urged to contact them at 817-594-8845, or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 817-594-5555. Callers may remain anonymous when reporting.

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Marie Anne is a retired Marine MSgt who has been owned by dogs all her life, and usually has two or more sharing her home with her at any given time, either permanent family members or 'foster children' through a local rescue that she is affiliated with. She enjoys writing about things she loves -- her pets and crafts topping the list.
Contact Marie Anne at OhioDogExaminer@gmail.com.